Plastic toy train track



' Feb. 6, 1951 c. A. EVANS 2,540,433

PLASTIC TOY TRAIN TRACK Filed Sept. 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 DW \w W mu. w HUME? m fi L Feb. 6, 1951 g, EVANS 2,540,433

PLASTIC TOY TRAIN TRACK Filed Sept. 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZZ 7 28 M/0 Z2 Z0 V Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PLASTIC TOYTRAIN TRACK Clarence A. Evans, Atlanta, Ga.

Application September 10, 1946, Serial No. 695,869

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in toy train tracks.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved track for toyelectric trains which is so constructed that the rail section may beformed of extruded material which may be plastic or other insulatingmaterial.

Another object of the invention is to provide a track construction whichwill permit forming the tracks of desired configuration, that is, oneither straight or curved lines, the track being of a relativelyflexible characteristic, for maintaining the rails in their properupright position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a combined rail and tiestructure which will permit coupling of adjacent sections together forcarrying forward the electric circuit or breaking the circuit, as may bedesired.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a track structure ofthis kind, means whereby adjacent side by side sections may be firmlysecured together.

With the above and such other objects in view as may hereinafter morefully appear, the invention consists of the novel construction andoperation, but it is to be understood that changes, variations, andmodifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

In the drawings;

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of a track construction which isconstructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1,

Figur 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly in detail, showing theadjacent rail pairs coupled together,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure1,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the base, and the tiestructure taken substantially on the line 5-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7-! of Figure5,

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation partly in section,showing the circuit coupling means for the metal rail,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary exploded view showing the coupling mt ansbetween the rail and the tie.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals ID and II designate generally apair of rails which are adapted to be formed out of plastic or othersimilar substantially flexible material which has a limited degree offlexibility.

The rails I I) and II are of like construction and the details ofconstruction of one rail will apply equally as Well to the other rail.

The rail ID includes a web l2 which is formed at its lower edge with apair of base flanges l3 and M. The base flanges l3 and M form anintegral base of key shaped configuration with the outer edges l5 and I6thereof tapering upwardly. A head I! is formed on the upper edge of theweb I2 and is formed with a longitudinally extending socket or recess l8of a size substantially greater than a semi-circle so as to provide asocket for firmly locking a metal rail or wire l9 therein.

A substantial portion of the wire or rail l9 projects above the head I1,and is adapted to be engaged by the wheels of the train. The two railsIll and II are adapted to be held in spaced apart relation by means of ahollow tie member 20. The tie member 20, as shown in Figure 9, issubstantially rectangular in transverse section being formed with arectangular bore 2! therethrough.

The tie 2D has disposed adjacent the opposite ends thereof a pair ofupwardly projecting lugs 22 and 23 for engagement with the base flangesof the rails I ll and II. The base flanges of the rails are formed withdownwardly opening keyways 24 within which the keys or lugs 23 areadapted to engage. These keys or lugs may be cemented or otherwisefirmly secured within the keyways 24 so that the two rails will befirmly held in spaced apart relation.

In order to provide a means whereby electricity may be communicated tothe rail or wire I9, I have provided between the ends of each rail, asplit sleeve 25 which is embedded in the head I! of the rail and thehead I I is formed with a notch 26 through which a lead wire 21 isadapted to extend and be connected to the metal sleeve 25.

With a device of this kind where an electric circuit is to be brokenbetween certain sections of the rails an insulating sleeve 28 may beconnected between the adjacent ends of the rail members I 9. The sleeve28 may project from one of the rail heads I1, and the adjacent rail headmay have a space made between the rail i 9 and the socket for the railin order to permit movement of the split sleeve onto the adjacent railmember.

It will be understood that where the electric circuit is not to bebroken, the sleeve or coupling member 28 may be formed of metal insteadof insulating material. Where it is desired to space pairs of railslaterally relative to each other, I have provided spacing blocks ormembers 29 which are of substantially the same cross sectionalconfiguration as the ties 20.

The spacing member 29 has extending from the opposite ends thereof plugs30 and 3| which are adapted to engage interiorly to adjacent tie members20 and thereby hold these tie members 20 in endwise spaced relation.

With a rail constructed according to the present invention the rails maybe made out of inherently resilient material which also has a degree offlexibility in addition to substantial degree of rigidity. These rails,which are coupled together in pairs, may be bent on curves or angles sothat a complete rail system may be provided. By forming the tracks andthe ties of plastic or similar material these tracks and ties will notcorrode.

What I claim is:

A toy train track consisting of sections of track comprising a pair ofrail members each formed of a length of extruded plastic material, ametallic wheel engaging member partially embedded in the upper side ofeach of said rail members, each rail member including a base flangeformed with transverse downwardly open slots adjacent each end and aplurality of intermediate equally spaced transverse downwardly openslots, split metallic sleeves about said Wheel engaging member andembedded in said rail head tie members each having a hollow elongatedtubular CJI body rectangular in cross section and an upwardly projectingkey member adjacent each end fixedly engaging said intermediate slots,and end tie members having pairs of upwardly projecting key membersadjacent each end adapted to engage said end slots of rail members ofadjacent track sections.

CLARENCE A. EVANS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 204,007 Condict May 21, 1878209,739 Welch Nov. 5, 1878 744,246 Shobe et a1 Nov. 17, 1903 889,687Houck June 2, 1908 1,153,387 Houghton Sept. 14, 1915 2,028,401 Lore Jan.21, 1936 2,079,065 Callahan May 4, 1937 2,084,322 Crane June 22, 19372,128,135 Glasgow Aug. 23, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date6,438 Great Britain June 20, 1833 of 1833 128,587 Great Britain Feb. 19,1920 236,028 Germany June 27, 1911 763,528 France May 2, 1934

